World No. 1 women’s singles badminton player An Se-young claimed her 11th tournament victory of the season on Sunday, defeating Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in the final of the BWF World Tour Super 500 Korea Open. Playing at the Jinnam Stadium in Gwangju, An secured the title with a 2-1 (21-12, 15-21, 21-16) win, according to reports by Kyunghyang Shinmun.
This victory marks the second consecutive season in which the athlete has reached the 11-win milestone. Previously, the only player to achieve 11 titles in a single season was Kento Momota of Japan, who set the mark in 2019.
Dominance in the 2024 season
Out of the 12 individual tournaments she has entered this year, she has claimed the top spot in 11.
In the Korea Open final, the match moved to a deciding third game after Yamaguchi took the second. An regained control in the final set, pulling away after an 11-9 lead to secure the victory. This marks her third career title at the Korea Open, having previously won the tournament in 2022 and 2023.
An maintains consistent results despite a demanding schedule
The victory comes at the end of a demanding schedule for the world No. 1. An competed in the Denmark Open and the French Open shortly after the Asian Games in September, maintaining a high intensity of play despite accumulating fatigue. Following her win on Sunday, she celebrated by mimicking the placement of a crown on her head, acknowledging the significance of her second 11-win season.
“I am proud of myself for being able to produce results consistently,” An said following the match. “I think I have grown more mentally compared to last year, and I have learned a lot about how to refresh my mindset when I am physically exhausted.”
The path to a 12th title
While An has reached a historic milestone, she noted that she is not focused on the records themselves, stating a commitment to playing her own style of badminton in future matches. Her attention now shifts to the final event of the calendar year.
The season concludes in December at the BWF World Tour Finals in China. Should An secure a victory at that event, she will become the first player in the history of the sport to claim 12 titles in a single season.
Earlier coverage: An Se-young Extends Winning Streak to 52 at Korea Open, BWF Call Her GOAT
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